Award-winning actress Leleti Khumalo was in attendance at the Durban ICC to pay her last respects to her ex-husband Mbongeni Ngema.Veteran actress Leleti Khumalo has paid tribute to the her ex-husband and internationally acclaimed playwright, director and lyricist, Mbongeni Ngema.
Khumalo was speaking outside the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC) where Ngema’s funeral service was held on Friday, 5 January.
The Stimela Sase Zola hitmaker was involved in a crash involving a truck on the R61 in Mbizana in the Eastern Cape on 27 December. He died shortly after being attended by doctors at Adelaide and OR Tambo Memorial Hospital.Speaking to eNCA, the former Imbewu: The Seed star said she was in attendance to support the Ngema family as this is a sad time for everyone. She added that she owes the late musical maestro a lot.
“UMadlokovu [Ngema] basically introduced me to this industry. Bengim’ncane kakhulu [I was very young] and I owe a lot to him,” she said.
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Khumalo starred as Sarafina in Ngema’s 1992 musical blockbuster of the same name and also featured in his music videos. The former couple, who had a 15-year age difference, tied the knot in 1992 and divorced in 2005.
“He put me on the global map. I am known throughout the world because he took me from Kwa-Mashu [a township north of Durban] and launched me into this industry, which I really really appreciate.”
A year after their divorce, Khumalo opened up about surviving domestic violence at the hands of the celebrated theatre giant. In an interview in 2020, Ngema said he was a “rehabilitated” man and took on the fight against gender-based violence as a reformed abuser.‘PIONEER OF PROTEST THEATRE’
A day after Ngema’s passing, Khumalo released a statement hailing the Asinamali producer a “pioneer of protest theatre”.
“We are deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic death of Mbongeni Ngema. He was a pioneer of protest theatre and has left a rich legacy in the theatre world,” read the statement.
“At this sad time, we send our profound condolences to his family and in the tradition of our culture, we would like to give them the space to grieve. May the Lord give them strength as they come to terms with this immense loss. May his soul rest in peace.”